We love it: Solar-powered business

The Michaeli family, owner of Novelty Crystal, was attracted to the concept of a self-sufficient solar energy system years ago. Their business is a leading manufacturer of plastic catering products, such as trays, bowls, tumblers, pitchers, stemware and serving accessories. The company has always had high electrical utility bills with its manufacturing and distribution facilities in Long Island City, NY and central Florida.

"My brother, Joe, and I have long been interested in solar," said Vice President Asher Michaeli of Novelty Crystal in an interview with PR Newswire. "A few years ago, when the price of energy was rising dramatically, we looked into the economics of installing a PV system. At the time, the breakeven was too long. Last year, new programs to encourage solar installations shortened the investment recovery period...Additionally, due to the federal stimulus, added benefits became available, making the installation an even better opportunity, cutting the breakeven down to less than two years. So, we moved ahead with the project."

The Novelty Crystal solar PV system has 3 main benefits:

1)The solar PV system will produce more than 55 thousand kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. This amount will remove Novelty Crystal's energy consumption from the grid and may even allow the company to export excess energy back into the grid when its solar production is greater than its electrical need.

2)The solar PV system will reduce carbon pollution by more than 52 thousand pounds a year. This is the equivalent of planting 4.09 acres of trees a year and reducing car driving pollution by 63,474 miles a year.

3)Novelty Crystal will make back their investment on the solar PV system within 2 years and then start saving millions on their utility bills.

Novelty Crystal is working with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to implement the federal stimulus package that aids companies to go green. President and CEO of NYSERDA Francis J. Murray Jr. is happy to help the plastic ware company reduce both the short-term and long-term costs of installing the solar system.

"Smart investments like this will help New York achieve Governor David Paterson's clean-energy goals, which will improve our energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions overall," said Murray Jr.

For more information on how you can install a solar PV system for your home or office, check out Solar Energy Systems.

Posted by: Sirena Rubinoff